God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Fear isn't from God. Power, love, and self-control are.
The episode in a glance.
- 01Fear is named and rejected as a spirit not from God.
- 02Power for the assignment.
- 03Love for the people.
- 04Self-control for yourself.
Read along.
2 Timothy 1:7 — 'For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.'
Paul names fear and rejects it. The spirit of fear isn't from God. When fear shows up in your decisions, you can recognize it doesn't have divine authority.
What God did give: power. The internal strength for the assignment in front of you. Not all you'll ever need at once — enough for today.
Love. For the people you serve, including the ones who are hard to love. The same Spirit that gives power also softens the heart.
And self-control. The reins on your own appetites and reactions. Together — power, love, self-control — they describe a courageous, kind, steady person. That's who God is making you.